Big Deer State Park

Quick Facts

Things To Do

Overview

Big Deer State Park is located within Groton State Forest, with over 26,000 acres. This is a popular campground with access to miles of hiking and multi-purpose trails as well as easy access to the Groton Forest Nature Center.

When you camp at one state park, you get free day use into all the others during your stay. There are several nearby parks you will want to explore: Boulder Beach with its wide sandy beach and canoe and kayak rentals, or Kettle Pond with a trail around the pond and quiet water paddling. New Discovery is the hub for many of the hiking trails and is the home of peaceful Osmore Pond, and Ricker Pond has access to the Cross Vermont Trail. Seyon Lodge State Park is Vermont's sole public fly-fishing only trout pond.

While in the neighborhood, be sure to check out the view from Owl's Head and the interesting plant life at Peacham Bog.

Bicycling

Route 232 in the Groton Forest is a popular bike trail, particularly in the fall. You can also access the Cross Vermont Trail which, when completed, will span from Burlington to Newbury, Vermont. 10 miles of this trail will be located in the Groton Forest. Multi-use trails also provide great opportunities for mountain biking.

Camping

The campground has 23 RV/tent sites (no hookups) and 5 lean-tos. The restroom includes hot showers ($). A sanitary dump station is available at nearby Stillwater State Park and limited generator use is permitted. There is easy access to the nature center and miles of hiking trails throughout the park.

Ice and firewood can be purchased at the park. Pets are permitted.

Fishing

Nearby locations allow fishing, particularly Boulder Beach, Ricker Pond, Kettle Pond, Osmore Pond and Seyon Lodge State parks. Fish species in nearby lakes and ponds include yellow perch, large and small-mouthed bass, bullhead, crappie, panfish and brook trout. Visitors over 15 years of age must carry a fishing license.

Hiking

Big Deer State Park located within Groton State Forest allows campers access to many, many miles of trails with varying difficulty levels and habitats. Some short trails that provide dramatic views are Owl's Head, Little Deer, and Big Deer Mountain Trails. Explore diverse woodlands and unique habitat on the Peacham Bog Loop Trail. Hosmer Brook, Coldwater Brook and Telephone line trails traverse woodlands and mountain streams. These are just a small sampling of the multitude of trails in this area. For detailed trail info and maps, click on the link below to visit the park web page.

Historic Sites

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was instrumental in building many of Vermont's state parks, including those in the Groton Forest. You can take a tour of CCC locations throughout the Groton Forest, and there are self-guided tour pamphlets and history guides available at the park or online.

Horseback Riding

Nearby New Discovery State Park is known for its horse camping, and Big Deer State Park is near many multi-use horse trails.

Picnicking

Picnicking is available at nearby Boulder Beach, where there are 75 shaded picnic sites with tables and grills and a picnic pavilion that can be rented for group functions. Picnicking is also available at nearby Osmore Pond, where there is a historic CCC-built stone and wood picnic pavilion, as well as private picnic spots along the lake.

RVing

RV camping is permitted, but there are no hookups. A sanitary dump station is available at Stillwater State Park and limited generator use is permitted.

Water Sports

Swimming is great at nearby Boulder Beach. Build a sand castle while soaking up the sun or bring an inner tube and lazily float along in the cool waters.

Wildlife Watching

Groton State Forest is known for its abundance of moose, loons, bear and white-tailed deer. You might also see porcupines, raccoons, fox and coyote.

Winter Sports

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling are popular winter activities.